College of the Ozarks announced that it is choosing "country over company" and is dropping Nike over the sportswear company's use of the former NFL player to promote the 30th anniversary of its "Just Do It" ad campaign.

"College of the Ozarks plans to remove all athletic uniforms purchased from Nike or that contain the Nike emblem. Student athletes will no longer wear the brand in response to the company's new ad campaign," the private, Christian college said in a statement Wednesday
.

"College of the Ozarks has stated its views regarding patriotism, the American flag, and the national anthem," the statement said, noting that in October It "revised its contracts for competition in all sports, adding a stipulation that all participating players and coaches show respect for the American flag and national anthem."

On Monday, Kaepernick tweeted a photo of his face and the phrase, "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt." A video ad featuring the quarterback
ran during the NFL season opener Thursday evening.

The former San Francisco 49er has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season. That year, he began kneeling during the National Anthem to raise awareness about police brutality against African-Americans and other racial injustices.

Dozens of other players began joining Kaepernick, and he has become a symbol of the dividing lines over race in America. Kneeling players have repeatedly been rebuked by President Donald Trump
and Vice President Mike Pence
among others. Trump told The Daily Caller this week that Nike's decision to use Kaepernick sends "a terrible message."

But Nike also received some praise for including Kaepernick and a reference to the contentiously debated protests in the campaign, which also features star athletes such as LeBron James and Serena Williams.